Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1703

Then, they came to the Main Hall. The Main Hall is the core of the entire temple, where tall statues of the Three Buddhas are enshrined, solemn and majestic. The incense in front of the Buddha statue is strong, and believers come to worship and pray for the Buddha's blessing. The three also stopped in front of the Main Hall to feel the profoundness of Buddhist culture.

"Looking at these Buddha statues, I can't help but develop a strong interest in Buddhist culture. Their beliefs are truly admirable," said Li Xiao.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Buddhist culture has a long history and contains many profound philosophies and wisdom. It can bring spiritual comfort and guidance to people."

Lin Yifei asked curiously: "Then do you think that Buddha really exists?"

Zhang Yuedong thought for a moment and said, "Everyone has his own opinion on this question. In my opinion, Buddha is more of a spiritual sustenance. It represents people's yearning and pursuit for a better life."

Li Xiao also said: "I think faith is a very personal thing. It can give people strength and courage, and make people stronger when facing difficulties."

Afterwards, they visited the Great Compassion Hall and the Sutra Library. The Great Compassion Hall is octagonal in shape, and houses the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and the 48-armed Avalokitesvara in various and beautiful postures. The Sutra Library houses many Buddhist classics and cultural relics, and is an important treasure house of Buddhist culture. During the visit, they also met several monks, who enthusiastically explained some Buddhist knowledge and the history of the temple to them, allowing them to have a deeper understanding of Nanputuo Temple.

When they left Nanputuo Temple, the three of them felt that they had gained a lot. The peaceful atmosphere and Buddhist culture here cleansed their souls and gave them new thoughts on life.

"This visit to Nanputuo Temple made me feel the charm of Buddhist culture and made me cherish my current life more," said Li Xiao.

Zhang Yuedong also said with emotion: "Yes, there are many beautiful things in life, and we should feel and cherish them with our hearts."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "I want to be like those monks in the future, keep a peaceful heart and enjoy every moment of life."

After finishing their trip to Xiamen, the three of them took a short rest and then embarked on their journey to the capital.

The capital, this ancient yet modern city, as the capital of China, carries a long history and splendid culture, and also displays the prosperity and vitality of a modern metropolis. They are full of expectations and are ready to start a new journey here to experience the unique charm of this city.

The second day after arriving in the capital, the sun was shining and the breeze was blowing. Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei arrived at the gate of the Palace Museum early.

The Forbidden City, the royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, formerly known as the Forbidden City, is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden structure complexes in the world. It is like a vivid history book, with every brick and stone, and every piece of glass telling of the glory and vicissitudes of the past.

Standing in front of the Meridian Gate Square of the Forbidden City, the three looked up at the majestic and magnificent city gate, and could not help but feel awe in their hearts. The Meridian Gate is tall and majestic, with red walls and yellow tiles, flying eaves and brackets, showing the majesty of the royal family. "Wow, this is the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City. I have only seen it in TV dramas before, but I didn't expect to see it with my own eyes. It is so shocking." Li Xiao said excitedly, and the camera in his hand kept flashing, wanting to record this exciting moment.

Zhang Yuedong pushed up his glasses, his eyes sparkling as he said, "Yes, the Meridian Gate is the main gate of the Forbidden City. In ancient times, this was the place where important ceremonies and celebrations were held, and it was also the place where the emperor issued edicts. It has very important symbolic significance."

Lin Yifei looked around curiously and asked, "Is it true that here, like in TV dramas, prisoners will be taken out of the Meridian Gate and beheaded?"

Zhang Yuedong smiled and explained: "Actually this is a misunderstanding. In the Ming Dynasty, Wumen was where ministers were beaten with sticks, but there is no record of prisoners being beheaded here. The real execution grounds were usually in places like Caishikou."

As the three of them talked, they followed the crowd into the Meridian Gate. Once you enter the Forbidden City, it feels like you have traveled through time and space and arrived in the ancient royal world. The Gate of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony are arranged in sequence on the central axis, which is magnificent and solemn. The three main halls are located on the white marble steps, just like the palace of heaven descending to the earth.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the highest-ranking and largest building in the Forbidden City. It is where the emperor held important ceremonies. Its golden glazed tiles sparkle in the sun, and the golden dragon throne in the hall shows the supremacy of the emperor's power.

Li Xiao looked up at the Hall of Supreme Harmony and couldn't help but sigh: "This Hall of Supreme Harmony is so magnificent. The ancient craftsmen were so amazing that they could build such a magnificent building."

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "The construction of the Hall of Supreme Harmony embodies the wisdom and efforts of ancient craftsmen. It is not only a building, but also a treasure of ancient Chinese architectural art. This hall adopts the highest level of architectural regulations. Both the architectural structure and the decorative details reflect the superb craftsmanship of the time."

Lin Yifei was full of curiosity about the golden dragon throne in the hall. He walked into the hall quickly, wanting to take a closer look at the throne that symbolized the imperial power. "This throne looks so majestic. It must be very impressive to sit here," Lin Yifei said with a smile.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Not everyone can sit on this throne. In ancient times, only the emperor was qualified to sit on it and accept the worship of all officials."

After leaving the Hall of Supreme Harmony, they visited the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony in turn. The Hall of Central Harmony was where the emperor rested before going to the Hall of Supreme Harmony for a grand ceremony. It was smaller in size but had exquisite architecture and gorgeous decorations. The Hall of Preserving Harmony was where the emperor held palace examinations and entertained princes and nobles. The gold brick floor in the hall was as smooth as a mirror. It was said that the production of each gold brick required a complex process, which took a long time and was expensive.

During the visit to the three main halls, Zhang Yuedong also explained a lot of historical knowledge and cultural allusions about the Forbidden City to Li Xiao and Lin Yifei, allowing them to have a deeper understanding of this ancient palace. "The Forbidden City is not only a royal palace, but also an important carrier of ancient Chinese culture. It houses a large number of cultural relics and artworks, and is a huge cultural treasure house," said Zhang Yuedong.

Then, they continued walking northward along the central axis and visited the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Palace of Union and Peace, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. These three palaces were where the emperor and the empress lived. Their architectural styles were relatively warmer and more elegant, but they still retained the royal style. The Palace of Heavenly Purity was the emperor's bedroom. A plaque with the words "upright and bright" hung high in the hall. It was said that the imperial edict of the emperor's succession was hidden behind it. The Palace of Union and Peace was where the emperor and the empress held ceremonies such as canonization. The hall was filled with twenty-five precious seals symbolizing the imperial power. The Palace of Earthly Tranquility was the empress's bedroom and also the bridal chamber for the Qing emperors' weddings.

"I didn't expect that the emperor and empress's lives also had so many rules and rituals." Li Xiao said with emotion. Zhang Yuedong said: "In ancient times, the royal family's life was subject to strict etiquette and regulations. Every detail had a specific meaning and regulations. This is also a manifestation of the feudal dynasty's rule."

In addition to the buildings on the central axis, the Forbidden City also has six east and west palaces, where the concubines lived. The six palaces have their own unique architectural styles, with deep courtyards, red walls and green tiles, full of the breath of life. They strolled through the alleys of the six palaces, as if they could hear the laughter and sighs of the concubines in those days.

During the visit, they also saw many tourists wearing ancient costumes and taking photos, as if they had traveled back to ancient times. Li Xiao and Lin Yifei were also infected by this atmosphere. They rented several sets of ancient costumes and left their footprints in every corner of the Forbidden City. "It feels really interesting to take photos like this, as if I have really become a person in ancient times." Lin Yifei said happily while wearing ancient costumes and posing in various poses.

Li Xiao also smiled and said: "Yes, this is also a unique travel experience, which allows us to better feel the historical atmosphere of the Forbidden City."

Before they knew it, it was already afternoon. The three of them had been visiting the Forbidden City for several hours, but they were still very excited and wanted to see more. Every building and every cultural relic in the Forbidden City made them linger. They were immersed in the charm of this ancient palace and felt the weight of history and the profoundness of culture.

Early in the morning of the third day, the three of them drove to Badaling Great Wall. The Great Wall, known as one of the seven wonders of the world, is the crystallization of the wisdom and blood and sweat of the ancient Chinese working people. It winds like a giant dragon between the mountains and has witnessed countless historical changes and dynasties.

The car was driving on the winding mountain road. The Great Wall in the distance was looming. As the distance got closer, the outline of the Great Wall became clearer and clearer. Its grandeur amazed the three people. "Wow, we finally saw the Great Wall. It's more magnificent than I imagined." Lin Yifei pointed out the window excitedly and said loudly.

Li Xiao was also shocked by the grandeur of the Great Wall. He said excitedly: "This is the Great Wall. It is so magnificent. How did the working people in ancient times build it?"

Zhang Yuedong looked at the Great Wall and said with emotion: "The construction of the Great Wall went through many dynasties and lasted for thousands of years. Countless working people paid hard sweat and life. It is not only a military defense line, but also a symbol of the indomitable spirit of the Chinese nation."

Arriving at the foot of the Badaling Great Wall, the three of them could not wait to start climbing. The steps of the Great Wall were uneven, and some places were very steep, requiring both hands and feet to climb up. But they were not intimidated by the difficulties and climbed up step by step. Along the way, they saw many foreign tourists, all of whom were attracted by the charm of the Great Wall and came to challenge it.

"If you haven't climbed the Great Wall, you are not a true man. We must be heroes today." Li Xiao encouraged himself while climbing.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Yes, we can do it. But we must pay attention to safety when climbing the Great Wall and don't be too anxious."

Lin Yifei was jumping around like a little monkey, sometimes running to the front to explore the way, and sometimes coming back to cheer for Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong. "Hurry up, the scenery ahead is more beautiful." Lin Yifei shouted.

As they climbed higher and higher, the scenery they saw became more and more spectacular. Standing on the wall, looking into the distance, the mountains were undulating, the trees were shady, and the Great Wall stretched out between the mountains, as if it was integrated with the world. The beacon tower in the distance was particularly eye-catching under the sunlight, which reminded people of the scenes of ancient wars.

"This Great Wall is so majestic. Standing here, I seem to be able to feel the bravery and tenacity of the ancient soldiers." Li Xiao said with emotion, looking into the distance.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "The Great Wall played an important role in military defense in ancient times. It resisted the invasion of nomadic peoples in the north and protected the security of the Central Plains. Every brick and stone carries the memory of history and is the pride of the Chinese nation."

During the climb, they also met a local old man who enthusiastically introduced the history and legends of the Great Wall to them, giving them a deeper understanding of the Great Wall. "This Great Wall was not built in a day or two. It was built with the wisdom and sweat of our ancestors," said the old man.

Li Xiao asked curiously: "Do you know how long the Great Wall is?"

The old man smiled and said: "The total length of the Great Wall is more than 20,000 kilometers, stretching from Shanhaiguan in the east to Jiayuguan in the west, spanning multiple provinces."

Lin Yifei said in surprise: "It's so long, it must have been very difficult to build it."

The old man said with emotion: "Yes, there were no modern tools at that time. Stones and bricks were moved by manpower. I don't know how many people died of exhaustion on the construction site. But our ancestors did not give up. They completed this great project with their perseverance."

After listening to the old man's story, the three people's respect for the Great Wall deepened. They continued to climb up and finally reached the highest point of the Badaling Great Wall - Haohanpo. Here, they saw a stone tablet with the words "If you haven't been to the Great Wall, you are not a hero" engraved on it. The three people excitedly took a group photo in front of the stone tablet to commemorate this unforgettable moment.

"We finally climbed the Great Wall, we are all heroes." Lin Yifei shouted happily.

Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong also smiled and said, "Yes, this experience of climbing the Great Wall will definitely be unforgettable for us."

Standing on the Hero's Slope, overlooking the beautiful scenery around, the three people were filled with a sense of accomplishment. The magnificence of the Great Wall made them feel the magic of nature and the greatness of mankind, and also made them cherish their current life more. They stayed on the Hero's Slope for a while, admiring the magnificent scenery, and then slowly went down the mountain.

On the way down the mountain, the three were still immersed in the charm of the Great Wall. As they walked, they recalled every detail of climbing the Great Wall and shared their feelings and experiences with each other. This trip to the Great Wall not only allowed them to appreciate the magnificence of the Great Wall, but also made them feel the great spirit of the Chinese nation.

After returning from the Great Wall, night had already fallen, and the three decided to go to Wangfujing to experience the prosperous night scene of the capital. Wangfujing, known as the "No. 1 Commercial Street in the Capital", is one of the most prosperous commercial streets in the capital, where various large shopping malls, department stores, fashion shopping plazas and time-honored stores gather, integrating shopping, leisure, entertainment and food.